Border biosecurity statistics

Last week, the National Biosecurity Capability Network (NBCN) published some interesting facts about the number of border and post border interceptions occurring in New Zealand. These figures show the pressure that occurs at the border on a weekly basis, and the amount of incursions that would occur in New Zealand if we did not have a comprehensive biosecurity system.

In just a single week in February, New Zealand had:

• 35 new notifications of pests, diseases or organisms and 156 on-going incursion investigations or responses.
• 115,082 international air passenger arrivals—resulting in seizure of 3,079 risk items and 126 infringement notices (2.7% of passengers with risk items).
• 13,634 sea containers arrivals into New Zealand—233 required decontamination (1.7 % of containers contaminated).
• 4,296 cargo lines, of which 792 were inspected and 276 items were seized (6% of cargo lines contained risk items).
• 500,000 mail items at the international mail centre—635 items required further inspection, 103 risk items treated or destroyed (0.02% of mail items contained risk items).
• 212 used vehicles or machinery items were imported—52 required decontamination (24.5% used vehicles or machinery contaminated)

As a proportion of total goods entering by each pathway, used vehicles and machinery have a much higher rate of risk items requiring treatment. To determine how this pathway is managed and the level of risk this pathway presents, KVH will profile this pathway in the coming weeks as part of our border profile series.

• Click here to read previous items from this border profile series.